The Nokia Lumia 1020, launched in New York last year
A translation of a message purportedly posted by Nokia France on its Facebook page, on 21 October, reads: ‘In the coming days, you will receive a message from Facebook on the renaming of this page.
‘We are about to become “Microsoft Lumia!”’
When approached by Amateur Photographer, Microsoft’s UK office declined to comment on the reports about the Nokia name.
A Microsoft spokesman said: ‘We are aware of the Nokia France Facebook post. However, there is still nothing to share on this.’
Nokia, which started out as a riverside paper mill in south-west Finland more than 150 years ago, has made products ranging from rubber boots and car tyres to TVs.
In 1963, it developed radio telephones for the army, and launched its first car phone in 1982.
By 2005, Nokia had sold its one billionth phone.
In recent years, Nokia has battled against an increasingly cut-throat smartphone photography market.
